It was a special night at our End of Season Awards as Luke Thompson scooped the three major accolades and we paid tribute to Jon Wilkin and our Foundation.
The prop capped a stellar season to date by being named Player of the Year, Players’ Player of the Year and the Members’ Player of the Year.
‘Thommo’ has led from the front all season to be one of the best forwards in the game.
He said: “I’m really happy to win these awards. I just work hard during the week and try and do the same things in preparation. Justin has put a lot of faith in me, given me a starting shirt, and my job is to hit the high standards we set at the club.
“It has been a great year so far, but it’s not finished yet. We have a semi-final coming up we have to perform in first.”
Morgan Knowles was named Young Player of the Year whilst Jack Welsby and Lewis Dodd took home the Under 19s and Under 16s Player of the Year respectively.
Paul Craig won Saints Wheelchair RL Player of the Year and Naomi Williams was awarded the Women’s accolade.
The club also paid tribute to Assistant Coach Jamahl Lolesi who will leave the club at the end of the season.
Try of the Year went to Tommy Makinson’s effort at home to Wigan in the Super 8s.
The winger won with 41 per cent of the vote over three Ben Barba efforts.
The Chairman’s Award paid tribute to our Community Development Foundation.
Every year the club interacts with more than 50,000 children in the community through projects that range from the anti-bullying initiative the club launched last week to the new Learning Disability Rugby League side.
We partner with Community Integrated Care, the YMCA and many other local organisations to spread messages that include being healthy, social interaction and many others besides.
The Foundation has gone from strength-to-strength over the last 18 months with the first-team providing support for these programmes as well as putting time aside to welcome local charities, community groups and organisations to the Totally Wicked Stadium.
Foundation Director Steve Leonard said: “This award is for everyone in the Foundation as without those people SCDF wouldn’t be what it is today. We have some great partners too such as Community Integrated Care, YMCA and North West Borough’s Health Care and we work alongside them to make a real difference in the community.”
Finally, Justin Holbrook gave awards to two players who have gone above and beyond this year – Jon
Wilkin and Tommy Makinson.
Jon was also presented with a special framed shirt for his service to the club.
Justin added: “Jon has been a fantastic help for myself both on and off the field and has been a terrific leader of this club.
“His form has been excellent all season, particularly over the last couple of weeks when he has really stood up and made a difference. The standards he sets during training is first class.
“He is a credit to work with as a coach and is probably the most mentally strong person as a player I have met. Physically he pushes himself and is a great part of our team. I’m sure he will want to end the season on a good note.”
Wilkin said: “It feels strange talking about this now when there are three weeks left of the season. I am conscious of being sentimental and reminiscing about my time at the club now. When you build a house, you don’t leave five tiles off it and be happy with that; I have the last little bit of my job to do.
“We have three games left to win something and when that time comes I can look back and toast everyone here.”
The event was in association with Totally Wicked whilst Robinsons Brewery sponsored the awards.
End of Season Award Winners:
Wheelchair RL Player of the Year: Paul Craig
Under 16s Player of the Year: Lewis Dodd
Under 19s Player of the Year: Jack Welsby
Special Recognition Award: Jamahl Lolesi
Women’s Player of the Year: Naomi Williams
Young Player of the Year: Morgan Knowles
Members’ Player of the Year: Luke Thompson
Coaches’ Special Recognition Awards: Jon Wilkin & Tommy Makinson
Players’ Player of the Year: Luke Thompson
Try of the Year: Tommy Makinson, Super 8s v Wigan
Chairman’s Award: Steve Leonard, Saints Community Development Foundation
Player of the Year: Luke Thompson
End of Season Awards
